Quick engine question (GS500F 2004) from Denmark

[kapsel]

Hi everyone,

First forumpost here - I've been reading some posts for a few weeks, and decided to join the fun. Sorry if my English aint perfect, but my native language is Danish since I live in Denmark (Copenhagen). I have some pictures of my bike online at http://gallery.kapsel.dk/bikes/gs500f/ if you want to check it out

Anyway, I bought a used GS500F (2004, only around 4000km (thats like 2500 miles)), and it was GREAT for the first ~1000 km - then, one day, the motor suddenly started acting a bit up. I am not sure how to describe it, but it sounded like just one cylinder was going. I recorded the sound from the engine running idle (with my laptop), and I put it online here:

http://riaa.dk/crap/lort.mp3

It really sounds like something is wrong IMO - but this is my first bike, and I'm not really used to noticing the engine and so on, so I am not 100% sure. Anyway, I spoke with my uncle on the phone, and he's pretty good with bikes. He heard the motor running idle in the phone, and he suggested that it was either the carburator (is that the english word?) or the ignition.

So I figured i might want to check the spark-plugs - I never checked spark plugs before, almost never had a screwdriver in my hand - but I managed to take them out and check them. They looked ok (I compared with some pics that I found online), but I decided to try changing them anyway, just to be on the safe side. So I bought some new ones, and installed it.

I am not really sure if it made alot of difference. I put the engine sound online at http://riaa.dk/crap/lort1.mp3 (this time recorded with my cellular phone, so the quality is a bit poor, sorry!).

It runs pretty smooth above 3000-4000rpm, you really don't notice it when you're driving. I had it running pretty much top speed on the highway today, and it runs fine. But the idle "noise" worries me a bit. It sounds more like a fishing vessel/trawler than a GS500 motorbike.

I have _no_ idea what to do now - I'd love to give it in for service, but theres a FOUR WEEK WAITING LIST (the season just started here), so I'd love to find a solution myself, if its just something simple that has to be done.

Any ideas, anyone?

I tried taking off the cap of the sparkplugs while the engine is running - and the engine is able to run with just one cylinder/sparkplug. I tested this by removing the left first, and the engine kept running (sounding stranger thou). Then putting it back on, and removing the right one. Same thing as the left one.

I hope some people has some ideas for what to do - I have no idea where to begin.

kind regards,

Kasper, Copenhagen, Denmark

[ducati_nolan]

Well, since the bike ran on each cylinder on it's own, it probally isn't the spark.

I bet you have some dirt or something clogging one of your carbs. Do you have a fuel filter? You should take apart the carbs, clean them and set your float height. It sounds like your idle jet is clogged, that would explain why it runs okay at higher speeds. Put a fuel filter on there and make sure your Vac port is covered too.

If the bike runs okay at higher RPM, you could put some carb cleaner in the gas and see if that helps, but it probally won't. It's easy to do though

[kapsel]

Well, since the bike ran on each cylinder on it's own, it probally isn't the spark.

I bet you have some dirt or something clogging one of your carbs. Do you have a fuel filter? You should take apart the carbs, clean them and set your float height. It sounds like your idle jet is clogged, that would explain why it runs okay at higher speeds. Put a fuel filter on there and make sure your Vac port is covered too.

If the bike runs okay at higher RPM, you could put some carb cleaner in the gas and see if that helps, but it probally won't. It's easy to do though

Hi,

Allright, thanks for your answer. Like I said earlier, I have really no idea about all those technical words and expressions - i barely know what a carb is, and I have no idea if I have a fuel filter.

I won't, however, take apart the carb if it's alot of work and if it requires alot of tools etc. - I have no idea what I am doing, hehe. So I will prolly just ride it for a few more weeks, and then turn it in to service when they have time. It is also almost at its 6000 km mark, so it's about time for a servicecheck. I don't think it has been checked for a year or two now (i guess I could check the papers from the earlier owners), so yeah, it is time.

But if it's a quick thing to clean the carbs and putting an fuel filter in, please enlighten me!

/Kasper

[werase643]

I would NOT reccomend you do the carbs.  nothing personal

try pulling a little on the choke lever and see if it idles better?